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the third term to start a class for adults. Promises were made, but the war broke out and upset all arrangements. However, I have little doubt that a strong class of adults will be formed as soon as the excellent character of the instruction provided becomes known. The cookery and millinery classes were both very popular with free-place students. No paying pupils attended the domestic classes. Though the cookery classes are somewhat expensive to work, I think the results obtained justify the outlay. With so many of our young girls going into offices immediately on leaving school it is essential that parents should assist in giving them a chance of learning something of domestic science. Given the assistance of every parent in Petone, we can make this school what it was intended to be by the founders -namely, a place where young and old can get the benefits of a sound education to enable them to grapple with the difficulties of the future. The plumbing class has progressed very well during the year, and some excellent work is done by some of the students. This class has not been very large, but the attendance has been more oven than it was last year and exceptionally good work has been done. This year a class for building-construction was added to the list of classes owing entirely to the exertions of the carpentry instructor. The work was necessarily elementary at first, but the students have made good progress and will be doing advanced work in a short time. I have not the least doubt that any one in the building trade who is not an expert would benefit very much by a two years course in this class. The carpentry class has worked well, some of the work done being a credit to the pupils, to the instructor, and to the school. The attendance at these two classes has been a pleasing feature during the year. It is an example that some of the other classes would do well to strive to emulate. I cannot stress the, point too strongly that regularity of attendance and application to work are important factors in the success of a student. The drawing class was very successful. It is naturally a very mixed class, but the pupils get a large amount of individual attention, and any one with enthusiasm for his work must naturally get on. All the free-place trade pupils attend this class, and it helps them considerably in their work. The class for drawing and painting is composed for the greater part of young pupils, chiefly those who come from the primary schools of the district. It is a very useful class and many of the students have made wonderful progress. These students are doing excellent work, and lam quite, satisfied with the progress all round. The continuation trade class is composed of trade pupils taking carpentry, electricity, and plumbing. At the beginning of the year the class was difficult to work, but it soon developed into one of the best classes in the school. The teachers were well suited to the work, and soon adapted themselves to the circumstances, with the happy result that the olass at the end of the year was doing excellent work, and on the last night of the year there was a greater attendance than on any other night. The attendance at the-book-keeping class has been quite as satisfactory as usual, but from the number of students who entered the olass the attendance should have been much larger. We have an instructor recognized as an authority on the subject, and it seems a pity that those who enter for this subject do not put a little more enthusiasm into their work. Of course it must not be forgotten that those attending the school are working during the day and that some of them attend the school four if not five nights a week. Much has been attempted by the chemistry class during the year and good work has been done. The teacher is very enthusiastic and some pupils do advanced work. Four are sitting for the Public Service Senior and six for the Public Service Entrance examinations. ■•> The war reduced the attendance at some of the classes considerably. Several of the students had to go to the forts, and consequently could not attend school or prepare for the various examinations : others had to work overtime to do the work of those that were away. Two students and one teacher are away with the Expeditionary Force. Although the above-mentioned factors have certainly militated against regularity of attendance, I think we have every reason to be satisfied with the progress made during the year. The Borough Council has this year made vast improvement to the grounds generally. The gates they have erected set the school off to advantage, while with the open view to the recreation-ground no better site is available, for a school in any district. At one time we were satisfied with an annual social, but during the last year three very successful socials were held in connection with the school. The last two of these were held at the school and were a decided success. The staff gave every assistance possible. The surplus obtained from these socials was donated by the pupils to the prize fund. One of the outstanding features with regard to the advancement of the, school is the, establishment of classes at the Upper Hutt. The Managers authorized me to endeavour to establish these, and, owing to the splendid assistance rendered by the Upper Hutt School Committee, the Town Board, the County Council, and others, our efforts have been crowned with success. From the returns furnished there should be no doubt as to the future success of the Upper Hutt branch classes. There were of course heavy initial expenses. This expenditure, however, will not be recurring, and if we have the good fortune to again have an equally energetic committee the work must succeed. Branch classes were also established at the Lower Hutt. War having broken out just when we anticipated starting, the time proved inopportune. However, we were able to make some progress, and T hope that next year the classes will be established on a permanent basis. T have, on behalf of the Managers, to thank the following bodies for their generous donations : Petone Borough Council, Lower Hutt Borough Council, Gear Company, Working-men's Club, Woollenmills, Upper Hutt Town Board, Hutt County Council, and the. Upper Hutt Technical Committee. Before concluding I must thank the staff for their generous and loyal support throughout the year, and also

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